In cold weather, wear layers of clothing, which help to keep in body heat.

Avoid power lines and use electric tools and appliances safely to prevent electrical shock.

Food Safety

If the power is out for less than 4 hours, then the food in your refrigerator and freezer should be safe to consume. While the power is out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food cold for longer.

If the power is out for longer than 4 hours, follow the guidelines below:

For the freezer section: A freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. Do not open the freezer door if you can avoid it.

For the refrigerated section: Pack milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy, and spoilable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice. Small coolers are fine for this purpose.

Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of your food right before you cook or eat it. Throw away any food that has a temperature of more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Safe Drinking Water

When power goes out, water purification systems may not be functioning fully. Safe water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene includes bottled, boiled, or treated water.

Do not use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice, or make baby formula. If possible, use baby formula that does not need to have water added to it.

If you use bottled water, be sure it came from a safe source. If you do not know that the water came from a safe source, you should boil or treat it before you use it. Use only bottled, boiled, or treated water until your supply is tested and found safe.

If you don't have clean, safe bottled waer and if boiling is not possible, you often can make water safer to drink by using disinfectant, such as unscented household clorine bleach, iodine, or chlorine dioxide tablets. These can kill most harmful orgnaisms, such as viruses and bacteria. However, only chlorine dioxide tablets are effective in cotrolling more resistant organisms.

Boiling water, when practical, is the preferred way to kill harmful bacteria and parasites. Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute will kill most organisms.